Skeeter Strada F-80

[Tony T.]

Hello guys, it's been a long time since I've visited this site. Here lately I've started a new project of waking up my sleeping Skeeter. It's been setting tarped up under my awning since 2003-2004 I forget which year.

Motor a 75hp Mariner in-line 4 cylinder seems to crank up and run fine for now. I pulled the plugs and lightly shot a little oil in each cylinder and turn the flywheel by hand first, then with new fresh gas/oil mixture and a little Seafoam added she fired up.

I'm in the process of replacing some of the sub-floor in the rear compartments due to a couple of huge rats that homesteaded for a while and some of the wiring they chewed on also.

The gelcoat has a few small chips that need repaired but I've never done any gelcoat repair, maybe a few pointers on that if anyone has any comments. I've added a few pics of the on going project.


Tony

 

[Tony T.]

Re: Skeeter Strada F-80

I've added a few more pics of the work in progress just the first stage for now, of course this is not a full restoration like some threads I've read, but may help some just wanting to do a patch job like in my case.

The rest of the flooring is in real good shape, although I do have some gelcoating to tackle here later on, I also added a couple pics of the damaged gelcoat I'll be dealing with. Surprisingly the boat never has taken on any water, actually I always had to add some water to bilage area where I had the depth finder transducer to activate it.

I also decided to go ahead and do some re-plumbing since the Skeeter has set up for so long, a complete re-wiring will follow also.


Tony

 

[Tony T.]

Re: Skeeter Strada F-80

Today I was able to get the first layer of glass on one side, I'm planning to add another layer for added strength and for places I may have missed. I was able to snap a few pics.

Tony

 

[Tony T.]

Re: Skeeter Strada F-80

I'm pretty much finished with the inside fiberglass now, I have to decide on a coating something in a flatblack, either epoxy base paint,undercoating or herculiner. I've also started gutting the wiring since so much of it was damaged by the rodents.

I was checking out my bow and stern lighting making sure they was still in working order, below are a few pics. Slow process working on the weekends

Tony

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Skeeter Strada F-80

Good call on the wiring. I was trying to install a tach and had so much trouble with the old wiring I ended up ripping it all out and replacing it with new. My issue wasn't rodents but just old age and corrosion.